Air separator



Jn. 2 l 1615558l 5 927 T. J. sTuRTl-:vAN-r AIR SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 5. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l4 4f I /J ||l\\ 45 IIIIIIIIHIIII Jan. ,25, 1927.

T. J. STURTEVANT AIR sEPARATon 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 5, 1926 1,615 55s Jan. 25, 1927. T. J' STURTEVANT AIR SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 5. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented use. 27s, .1927.

UNITED. STATI-:s

:PATENT OFFICE.

THGMAS J'. STUBTEVANL 0F WELLESLEY, ISIIASSACB'U'SIIJ'IS,` ASSIGNOB T0 STURTE- by an air currentmoving upward ina sep' 5 arat'm chamber andn downward in. a settling Ac amber.' 'The air current is Yinduced by a fail and is causedto circulate through the chambers, and inlet and outlet openings between-them. The materials to be graded l are fedj into the separating chamber and are receii'red by a' rotary distribl'itorvwhich, throws the materials out 'acrossthe rising air current. The heavier particles whirl'and gravitate down through -the air current 'in l the separating chamber andv are delivered therefrom through ja' discharge spout, While4 the lighter particles are carried upward by 7 the air current, pass through the'outlet open# ing, and/'then gravitate downward in the Settling ,Chamber andare delive'redftherefromrthrou'gha discharge spout.- f

It isdesirable to regulate the velocity 10iI the aircurrent, in order that the separator ma v be adapted for grading materials of.

di erentcharacter. One of `Ythe purposes of y the, ,present invention" therefore, 'is to prok vide desirable means'for varying the volume 'of the air current passing through the out.

\ let opening. To accomplish this, in the present instance a rotary baille platej is, provided having means for adjusting the` saine toward or away from the outlet'opening of the separating chamber, the construction being such that the nearer tliebaie plate is to $6 said opening, Ithe greater will be the reduc-4 tion in the volume of the air current passing upwardl through the opening.

' Another purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient adJustable valve fonvarying the size of the outletopening. 'Another purpose of the y invention 1s to provide distributor and baiiie plates made of sections detachably secured together so" that', new platesniay be readily'substituted 46 for worn ones. And still anotherpurpose of the invention istolprovide' simple and etlicient means. forv spportingthe casing of thel separating chamber onthe outer casing of` the separator, the construction being such 0 that the inner casing may be levelled and its elevation .varied in respect tothe outer casing-and the fan as required." j g Alhe character. of the yinvention ma be bestfunderstoodby reference t0 the fo low,-

'Bos To;N MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or vMASSA- Am lsiiriinAToiz.

s, 192s. .serial no. 79,376. y y

Silption of one good form l.of the iiiown in the accompanying drawing desc vention vlings, wherein Fig. 1 isa 'vertical sectionA through an air searator embodying the invention;

ig. 2 on anenlarged scale is a view of a ortion of the outer land inner casing's i1- ustrating the means for adjustably supporting the inner lcasing on the outer casing;

Fig. 3 isa horizontalsection taken on line line 3-3 of Fig. 1; A

' Fig. 4 on an enlargedl scale is a vertical section through a portion of the rotary dis` tributor;

Fig. 5 is a'. horizontal section taken on line 5 -5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 77 of Fig. 1; and

- Fi 8 isa sectional detail of bearings for the; distributor carrying shaft.

Referring to the drawings, the air separator shown therein as one good form of the invention, comprises an outer casing 1 (Fig. 1)' consisting Aof a drum Shaving a cover 5 and a cone 7 projecting down from the casing is an inner casing 9 consisting of a drum 11 having a ring 13 at the top thereof leaving a central outlet opening 15. Projecting down from the drum 11 is a rusto-conidrum. lVithin and spaced from them'uter cal portion 17 and beneath the latter is a cone 19v provided with a tailings discharge spout 21 entered laterally through thelower portion 23 of the cone 7 of the outer casing. said cone portion 23 having a fines discharge outlet 25 atlthe bottom thereof. In order thatthe tailings discharge spout 21 may face in four different directions, the cone portion 23 ,is formedseparate from the cone -7 and the spout 21 has an upwardly flaring' mouth 27 overlapping the lower end of the-- mouth 27 to the cone 19. i

f@he inner casing is mounted on and supported by the cone 7 of the outer casing, and to accomplish this, legs 33 are provided, in the present instance, four in number. Each of said legs has its lower end swivelled in a split socket 35 secured to the cone 7 and vprovided with a clamp screw 36. The upper end is lthreaded to a cap 37 pivotally connected to one of the angle bars 31 of the cone 19. Threaded on the leg adjacent the r'cap 37 is a lock nut 39. The construction is such that on release of the clamp screws 36 and the lock nuts 39 the legs 33 may be given a rotative adjustment, thereby to raise or lower the cone 31 and properly level the same. Then the clamp screws 36 and the -nuts 39 may be set up to secure the legs in the positions to which they have been adjusted. The frusto-conical portion 17. and the cone 19 of the inner casing are space d to provide an inlet opening 41, and at this opening are vertical vanes .43 (Figs. 1 and 3,) having their lower ends resting on and pivotally connected to a ring 4 5 secured to the upper end of the cone 19. A tiange 47 rprojects outward from the frusto-conicalportion 17 of the inner casing and restsupon and is pivotally connected to the upper ends of the vanes. The construction is such that the inner casing drum 11 and frustoconical portion 17 are supported upon the vanes. These vanes may be individually adjustedto different angular positions to vary the velocity of the air current passing through the inlet opening 41, and the friction between the ends of the vanes and the ring and the iange 47 will be lsutcient to hold the vanes in the positions to which they are adjusted.

The space within the inner casing drum 11 and frusto-conical portion 17 constitutes a separating chamber 49, and the annular space between the inner and outer'casings constitutes a receiving or settling chamber 51. To introduce the materials to be graded into the separating chamber, a feed spout 53 (Fig. 1) is provided on the cover 5, and communicates with a chute 55 projecting down through the outlet opening 15 referred to, and having a neck 57 projecting down a substantial distance into the separating chamber. The feed spout 53 is provided with a flap valve 59 pivotally mounted on the spout and having an arm 61 carryin a weight 63, the construction being such t at flow of materials through the spout will hold the valve open, and when the iiow of materials through the snout ceases, the weight 63 will close the valve and thereby revent out-draft of the air through the fee spout.

The materials passing down through the chute 55 are delivered to a rotary distributor, in the present instance, comprising a base 65 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7), and a lower cir cular plate 67 formed of sections 69 having at the edges thereof downwardly projecttemete The base is secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 71 which projects up through the chute 554 through a hole in the outer casing .cover 5, and extends a substantial distance above the cover. This shaft is journalled-in an upper bearing 73 carried by a gear housing 75 and is journalled in a lower bearing 77 beneath and secured to the cover... Fast on the shaft 71 is a coller 79 resting upon an end thrust ball bearing 81. Mounted on the top of the gear housing 75 .is alubricant cup 83 ada ted to supply lubricant to the aforesaid earings.

To rotate the shaft, a gear 85 is secured thereon directly above the ball bearing 81 in thegear housing, and meshes with a pinion 87 fast on a countershaft 89 journalled in bearings 91 and 93 mounted on the cover,

the outer end of the shaft being provided with a pulley 95 which may be driven from any suitable source of power.

To stir the materials passing down through the feed chute 55 to the rotary distributor late 67, vertical blades 97 are provided W ich may be entered up through slots in the base 65 and be detachabl secured thereto by bolts. When the b ades become worn they may be removed down through the base.

Located above the outlet opening 15 of the inner casing is a fan 99 comprising blades 101 secured to inclined arms 103 mounted on and secured to an up er flange of a hub 105 encircling thefeed c ute neck 57. `This hub has a lowery flange restino upon and secured to an internal flange 10 of a shell 109 encircling and substantially larger in diameter than the feed chute neck 57. At the lowerend of the shell is an internalfiange 111 which rests upon and is secured to the distributor base 65. To strengthen the shell it is provided with a series of upstanding interiaLribs 113 cxtending between the yinternal flanges 107 and 111. The lower edo'e of the wall of the shell is a substantial spacey above the base, in order that the materials-may ow out over the base between the ribs 113 onto the distributor plate 67.

When the vertical shaft is rotated, the distributor plate will be rotated', and since the shell and the fan are carried by the distributor base, the fan also will be'rotated and will cause air to circulate up through the separating chamber through the outlet openi ing 15 and thence downward through the re- Celvlolg 01 settling chamber and thence llt) through the inlet opening back into the separating chamber. The fan gives the air current a whirling motion in the settling chamber, and the whirling motion ofthe air in both the separating and settling chambers is promoted by the vanes 43.

The rotary distributor is provided with an upper or battle plate 113 formed of sections 115 having upstanding flanges 117 bolted together. Said sections have inner marginal portions bolted to an angle ring 119 encircling the shell 109.

An important feature of the invention is the provision for adjustment of the baille plate toward and from the outlet opening 15, thereby to regulate the air-current passing through said opening. To accomplish this, in the present-instance, three upright screws 121 are provided threaded-in square nuts 123 seated in recesses in lugs 125 integral with the angle ring 119. The lower portions ot' these screws extend through bores in lugs 127 projecting outward from the shell 109; and in spaces between the lugs 127 and the distributor base are collars 129 fast lon the screws and confine the same against longitudinal movement. The lower ends 131 of the screws may be squared to receive a suitable tool for imparting rotation to the screws. Holes 133 in the baille plate 113 allow the screws to project therethrough, and the nuts 125 are confined in their recesses by marginal portions of the plate surrounding` the holes 133. A vertical key 134 (Figs..4 and 5) is set into a shallow groove 134L in the shell and secured by screws to the shell. This key fits into a keyway in the ring andprevents rotative movement of the 'ring about the shell and thus relieves the .screws 121 froml this duty.

The construction is such that the screws /may be rotated and operate through the nuts and lugs to move the balile plate 113 up or down along the shell 109 to different positions of adjustment, and the screws will serve to hold the battle plate in its different positions of adjustment. In Figs. 1 and 4, the baffle plate is in its highest position of adjustment. It may be lowered down substantially to the lower edge of the wall of the shell.

It may be desirable to vary the effective opening at the outlet 15 of the separating chamber for different classes of work. To accomplish this, a valve is provided comprising a series of lower plates or sections 135 (Fig. G) resting upon the top ring 13 of the inner casing, said plates being of'- general oblong shape and in spaced relation to one another. Superposed upon the lower plates are upper plates or sections 137 of general .oblong shape and disposed to cover the spaces between the lower plates. Each of the plates has a rod 139 secured thereto p roje'ctmg radially outward through a guide collectively form an opening substantially circular in form, the adjustment of the plates serving to vary the ydiameter of the opening.

In operation, materials to be graded are introduced to the feed spout 53 and -llow L downward through the chute' 55 to the rotary distributor plate 67. The materials flow outward'in a thin stream over the distributor plate toward the wall of the inner casing drum 11 under the influence of centrifugal force, and the materials meet the I current of air whirling upward through the separating chamber. The heavier particles or tailings gravltate downward through the upward air current into the cone 19 and out through the discharge spout 21. The lighter particles are carried upward by the air current, flow past the periphery of the baffle plate 113, through the outlet opening 15 and over into the receiving or settling chamber 51. The whirl of the air current in said chamber causes the lighter particles to move outward toward the inner surface of the outer casing, and they flow along the same downward into the cone 7 and are discharged through the lines outlet 25. Since the vanes 43 at the inlet opening contribute to the .whirling motion of the air current, they tend' l to prevent return of the liner partlcles into the separating chamber.

The rotation of t-he distributor and battle platesl promotes whirl of the air in the separating chamber. Adjustment of the battle plate relatively to the outlet opening will vary the volume of the .air current through said opening. The baille plate will have the j greatest tendency to reduce the volume of the rising air current passin through the outlet opening when it is in lts position of* adjustment nearest the outlet opening as shown. The` baille plate in all of its adjustments is preferably well up in Nthe drum 11 of the inner casing. Variation inthe volume of the air current through the outlet opening may be further accomplished by varying the size of the valve opening by adjustment of its lates as described. l

Inmy copen ing application Serial No.

113,395, filed June`3, 1926, is disclosed .a

separator vsimilar in some respects to the separator of the present application. and included and claimed therein are a hopper provided wth a flap valve and a fan having a hub in the separating chamber, arms projecting obliquely outward and upward from the hub through anopening ,at the to of the separating chamber and carrying b ades 1oeated above the separating chamber.

The upstanding flanges or vanes 117 ot'.

the baille plate 115 are of substantial width and operate as a centrifugal agitator which strikes the particles and the impact of the vanes thereon disintegrates and breaks up larger particles which may be formed by smaller particles adhering together, thereby increasing the percentage of fines which may be carried over into the settling chamber. This centrifugal agitator also increases the Whirl of the air eurent in the separating chamber closely adjacent to the top thereof and with transverse spiral action with respect to the air current whirling and rising in the separating chamber toward and past the centrifugal agitator. The centrifugal effect of the agitator throws the heavier particles out toward the wall 1l of the separating chamber so that they may gravitate down along said wall and be re'vented from passing inward between the allie plate and the top of the separating chamber and thence on to and through the outlet opening and into the settling chamber.

The fan draws the air current up through the separating chamber and blows the same down through the settling chamber. The vanes 43 at the inletV opening are arranged to promote the whirl of the air current passing from the settling chamber into the separating chamber and the centrifugal agitator intensifies the whirl of the air ycurrent at a place which is directly beneath and adjacent to the top of the separatin chamber where it desirably increases the e eiency of separation.

The baffle plate being of ample area and extendingl well out toward the wall of the separating chamber and being located well up adjacent to the top of the separating chamber prevents the upward whirling air current, on passing the distributor plate, from flowing inward directly to the outlet opening, and causes the air current to be deflected out-ward toward the wall of the separating chamber in approaching the outlet opening. The centrifugal agitator also contributes to this effect. Y

By adjustment of the combined baille plate and the rotary Vagitator relatively to the outlet opening, the 'volume of the air current passing through said opening may be varied.

"The nearer they are v.to the opening, the

greater will be the reduction in the volume of air passing throughy the opening. The area of the flanges or vanes of the centrifugal agitator is relatively small as compared to the area of the blades ot' the fan so that the latter has the principal burden of causing the air current to circulate through the chambers.

Since the distributor and baille plates are formed of sections, they may be readily separated and others substituted therefor, suitable man holes (not shown) being provided to allow access to said plates.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A separator comprising in combination, an outer casing, an inner casing spaced from the outer casing and having an upper portion and a lower conical portion, a shutter between the upper and lower portions, the upper portion having an outlet opening at the top thereof, a fan in the outer casing above the outlet opening for causing air to circulate up in the inner casing, through the outlet, past the fan, down in the space between the easings and through the shutter into the inner casing, a vertical shaft extending down through the outlet opening into the inner casing, a rotary distributor carried by the shaft an upper baille plate in the inner casing, means to adjust the baille plate toward or from the outlet opening and cause it to cooperate with the outlet opening thereby to var the volume of the alr passing through sai opening, means for'delivering material to be graded to the rotary distributor, and a valve for the outlet opening having provision for varying the size of theoutlet opening, thereby further to vary the volume of the air passing through the opening.

2. A separator comprising in combination, a separating'chamber and a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, a fan above the outlet open- ,ing for causing air, to circulate through said chambers and openings, a vertical shaft extending down through the outlet opening into the separating chamber, a rotary distributor on the shaft comprising a lower plate, and an upper plate in the separating f chamber adjustable toward or from the outlet opening and cooperating with the outlet opening to vary the volume of the air passing therethrough, and feed means having a chute extending through the out-let opening for delivering materials to be graded to the distributor.

3. An air separator comprising in combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them. a fan for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor for delivering materials to be graded into the' separating chamber comprising upper and lower plates in the separating chamber, and means to adjust the upper plate relatively to the outlet opening and cause it to cooperate With the outlet opening thereby to vary the volume of the air current passing through the outlet opening. v i

4. An air separator comprising in combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber l iving inlet and outletvopenings between them, a fan for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor plate for delivering materials to be raded into the separatin chamber, a-ba e plate located beneath an adjacent the outlet opening, and means carried by the lower plate to adjust the baie plate relatively to the outlet opening and cause it to cooperate with the latter thereby to vary the volume of the air current` through the outlet opening.

5. An air separator comprisin in combination, a separating chamber an a settling chamber having inlet and. outlet openings between them, a fan for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor for delivering materials to be graded into the separatin chamber comprising upper and lower p ates, and means including three screws for adjusting the upper plate relatively to the outlet opening, thereby to vary the volume of the air current through the outlet opening.

6. An air separator comprisin in com bination, a separating chamber an a settling chamber having inlet and' outlet yopenings between them, a -an for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor for delivering materials to be graded into the separating .chamber com rising a lower plate, a shell risin from vthe ower plate, a ring encircling the s ell, a

bathe plateon the ring, and means to adjust the ring and baffle plate along the shell, thereby to vary the distance of said plate from the outlet opening.

7. An air separator comprisingin combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, a fan for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor for delivering. materials to be graded into the separating chamber comprising a lower plate, a ring, an .upper plate secured to'. the ring, recesses 1n the ring, nuts in the recesses, and screws rising from the lower plate and threaded to said nuts for adjusting the upper plate relatively to the lower plate.

8. An air separator comprising in combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, a fan for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor for delivering materials to be graded into the separating chamber comprising a lower plate, a shell rising therefrom, a ring encircling the shell, an upper plate composed of sections secured to the ring, and screws rising from the lower shell for adjusting the ring and upper plate along the shell, thereby tovary the distance of the upper plate Vfrom the outlet' opening. Y

9. A separator comprising in combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, a fan for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a rotary distributor-for delivering materials to be graded into the separating chamber and comprising a lower plate and a baille plate, means to adjust the baille late toward or from the outlet opening, an a valve for the outlet opening having provision for varying the size of the outlet opening.-

10. An air separator comprisin in combination, a separatin chamber an a settling chamber having in et and outlet openings betweenthem, a fan abovethe outlet opening for causing air to circulate'through said' chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, means for causing air to circulate through said chambers 'and openings, a rotary distributor plate in the separating chamber, and a rotary baile plate in the separating chamber between the distributor plate and the outlet opening and adjustable toward and from said opening, said baffle plate being adjacent to the outlet opening and having its periphery adjacent to the wall of the separating chamber, thereby forming a constricted passa e for the air current passing the battle pla e tothe outlet opening. j

12. An lair separator comprising in combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, means for causing air to circulate up through' the separatin `chamber and down through the settling c amber, a

shaft extending intov the separating chamber,l

and a rotary ballie plate carried by said shaft having sections separable to facilitate their removal l:from the separator, and means for adjusting said plate toward and away from the outlet opening.

13. An air separator comprisin in combination, a separating chamber an a .settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, a fan for causing air to circulate up through the separating chamber and down through the settling chamber, av

shaft extending into the separating chamber,

isv

a rotary distributor comprising a base secured to said shaft, a plate on said base, a shell mounted on the base, a fan above `.the outlet opening having a hub secured to the shell, a ring encircling the shell, a bailie plate mounted on the ring and located in the separating chamber beneath the outlet opening, and means for adjusting the ring and baffle plate toward or away from the outlet opening.

14. An air separator comprising in combination, a separating chamber and a settling chamber having-inlet and outlet openings between them, means for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a shaft projecting through the outlet opening into the separating chamber, a rotary distributor on said shaft having holes therein, and mixing blades entered up through said holes a substantial distance above the distributor and secured to the latter, said blades being removable down through said holes. V

15. An air separator comprisin in combif nation, a separating chamber an a settling chamber having inlet and outlet openings between them, means for causing air to circulate through said chambers and openings, a chute for conducting materials into the separating chamber, a sha-ft projecting I down throu h the chute, a rotary distributor on saidps aft for receiving the materials from the chute, said distributor having holes therein, and mixing blades entered up through said holes a substantial distance above the distributor plate, said blades bein removable down through the holes in sai ate.

p 16. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers, said separating chamber having a top with an outlet opening therein, means for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers, a rotary distributor in the separating chamber for receiving materials and delivering the same into the path of the air current rising in the separating chamber, and a rotary baiile plate in the separating chamber located adjacent to the outlet opening and extending well out toward the wall of the separating chamber for delecting the air current and the materials carried up thereby outward beyond the edge of the late iii approaching the outlet opening, sai rotary baile plate having flanges for intensif ing the whirl of the air current with spira action directly beneath the top of the separating chamber, for breaking up particles and driving heavier particles out toward the wall of the separating chamber and preventing them from being carried by the rising air current throu h the outlet opening over into the settling c amber.

17. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers having inlet and outlet openings between them, a fan separating and settling chambers, said separating chamber having an outlet opening in the top thereof, a fan having blades above said outlet opening for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers, and a centrifugal agitator having vanes in the separating chamber beneath and adjacent to the outlet opening for intensifying the whirl of the air current with transverse spiral action relatively to the air current produced by the fan, the vanes being relatively small as compared to the blades.

19. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers, said separating chamber having a top with an. outlet opening therein, a fan having blades above the outlet opening for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers, a

r balile plate in the separating chamber beneath and adjacent to the outlet opening, and a centrifugal agitator between the bale plate and the outlet opening for intensifying the whirl of the air current directly beneath the top of the separating chamber.

20. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers, said separating chamber having an outlet opening in .the top thereof, a fan for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers with a rising movement in the separating chamber, means to distribute materials to be graded in the path of the rising air current, a battle plate in the separating chamber adjacent to the outlet opening, and a rotary centrifugal agitator between the baffle plate and the outlet opening.

21. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers said separating chamber having a top with an outlet opening therein, a fan having blades above the out et opening for causing an air-current to circulate through said chambers, a bathe plate in the separating chamber beneath and adjacent to the outlet o ening, and means between the battle plate an opening for intensifying the whirl of the air current passing the baille plate and approaching the outlet opening.

22. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers. said separating chamber having a top with an outlet opening therein, a fan having blades above the outlet opening for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers. :a baille plate in the separating chamber adjacent to the outlet opening. a centrifugal agitator between the baffle plate and the outlet opening, and means for adjusting the baille plate and centrifugal agitator toward or from the outlet opening.

23. An air separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, communicating separating and settling chambers, said separating chamber having inlet and outlet openings, a fan for causing a whirling air current to circulate through said chambers and openings, Yanes at the inlet opening for promoting whirl' of the air current passing through the inlet opening, a baiile plate in the separating chamber beneath and adjacent to the outlet opening, and a centrifugal agitator between the baffle plate and the outlet opening for intensifying the whirl of the air current between the baiie plate and the outlet opening.

THOMAS J. STURTEVANT. 

